FANS TO RAMS -- "MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS"

With the remarks by Rams President John Shaw and the
progress in negotiations, "Rams fever is building in St. Louis."
Mayor Freeman Bosley, Jr.: "We're extremely excited about the
position we're in." At a press conference last night, further
details of the Rams/FANS plan were made clear: 1) Businessman
Stan Kroenke is "poised to buy a 40% share of the Rams," but the
deal is not yet complete. 2) FANS Inc. "may take advantage of a
5% amusement tax on tickets to sporting events to help build" a
practice and office facility for the team. This could also lower
the amount needed to be raised through the permanent seat
licensing program. 3) Still unresolved on the Rams "wish list"
is the team's desire to be compensated for losses this season,
which could add at least $5-$6 million to the price tag, and the
question of who will take care of game-day expenses. 4) Also in
question is who will receive money from the selling of the
stadium naming rights to a corporation. FANS spokesperson Tom
Eagleton: "I'm more optimistic than I have been perhaps ever
before in this sequence because we're getting some issues
resolved" (Jim Thomas, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 11/4).